May 2011

glue play and exploration {exploring art materials}

7 = 7 - 6 = 1 + 1 + 1*

(7 minutes of glue play. Equals 7 minute of free time for me while he's happily busy on his own. Minus 6 minutes it took me to clean the glue off the table, his hands and the floor. Equals 1 minute net free time for me, plus 1 empty glue bottle, plus 1 piece of fun and still drippy glue art.)

*You're right. It added up to 1 big mess. It may not have made much math sense, but it did make art sense. His exploration of different art mediums is laying the groundwork now for his "masterpieces" later. For toddlers, the process of making art is more important than what is made. All this art play introduces children to how art supplies work...and how they don't. Art play shows them how wondrous their hands are for creating and he's refining his fine motor skills. He's learning while he plays. It is relaxing for a child—you can see our little one's quiet contentment in his glue play. And relaxing play, art exploration, and quiet contentment all adds up to one very good idea.

for your own little one's exploration of art materials

The child-friendly art materials ideas I share here offer a variety of sensory experience (textures and feel) and creative manipulation and exploration. Fun for small fingers and exploring minds.

Comments

glue play and exploration {exploring art materials}

7 = 7 - 6 = 1 + 1 + 1*

(7 minutes of glue play. Equals 7 minute of free time for me while he's happily busy on his own. Minus 6 minutes it took me to clean the glue off the table, his hands and the floor. Equals 1 minute net free time for me, plus 1 empty glue bottle, plus 1 piece of fun and still drippy glue art.)

*You're right. It added up to 1 big mess. It may not have made much math sense, but it did make art sense. His exploration of different art mediums is laying the groundwork now for his "masterpieces" later. For toddlers, the process of making art is more important than what is made. All this art play introduces children to how art supplies work...and how they don't. Art play shows them how wondrous their hands are for creating and he's refining his fine motor skills. He's learning while he plays. It is relaxing for a child—you can see our little one's quiet contentment in his glue play. And relaxing play, art exploration, and quiet contentment all adds up to one very good idea.

for your own little one's exploration of art materials

The child-friendly art materials ideas I share here offer a variety of sensory experience (textures and feel) and creative manipulation and exploration. Fun for small fingers and exploring minds.